Image Credit: Disney
Forgot password
Enter the email address you used when you joined and we'll send you instructions to reset your password.
If you used Apple or Google to create your account, this process will create a password for your existing account.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Reset password instructions sent. If you have an account with us, you will receive an email within a few minutes.
Something went wrong. Try again or contact support if the problem persists.
Alex Murdaugh on trial for the murder of his wife and son
Image via Flickr

5 Facts You Didn’t Know About the ‘Murdaugh Murder’ Case

Little known facts about the Alex Murdaugh murder case.

Alex Murdaugh, a disgraced, 54-year-old personal injury attorney, was found guilty of the murder of his wife, 52-year-old Maggie Murdaugh, and 22-year-old son, Paul. The tragic events unfolded on the evening of June 7, 2021, on the expansive Moselle hunting estate in South Carolina’s Lowcountry region.

Recommended Videos

CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE TO “THEY SAID WHAT!?” OUR NEWSLETTER ON THE DUMBEST HEADLINES IN POLITICS THIS WEEK

Prosecutors allege that Murdaugh committed the murders of his wife and son as a diversionary tactic to deflect attention from his financial wrongdoings. Additionally, he was confronting a devastating civil lawsuit related to his son’s fatal boating incident in February 2019, resulting in the death of 19-year-old Mallory Beach.

His housekeeper died under mysterious circumstances

Gloria Satterfield (Housekeeper) Family Photo

The scandal surrounding Alex Murdaugh takes a dark turn with the mysterious death of his housekeeper, Gloria Satterfield, in 2018. Despite the official explanation of a “trip and fall” accident, no autopsy was conducted. Her death certificate, listing the cause as “natural,” contradicted the initial narrative. This incident, along with other puzzling deaths, triggered an investigation into Satterfield’s demise.

He was shot in the head

Alex Murdaugh on trial for the murder of his wife and son
Image via Flickr

In a bizarre twist, Murdaugh claimed he was shot in the head while changing a tire in September 2021. Subsequent revelations exposed that he orchestrated the incident, enlisting Curtis Smith, a drug dealer who supplied him with oxycodone. The motive behind this staged event was linked to Murdaugh’s insurance fraud scheme and his struggles with substance abuse.

He has a substance problem

Alex Murdaugh at his murder trial at the Colleton County Courthouse in Walterboro, Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2023. Grace Beahm Alford/The Post and Courier/Pool
Photo via Flickr

Alongside his legal troubles, Murdaugh revealed his entry into rehab for an oxycodone addiction. Lawyers attributed his insurance fraud scandal and alleged misappropriation of millions from his law firm to his depression and substance abuse, exacerbated by the tragic deaths of his wife and son.

He may be connected to the death of a teenager

Stephen Smith’s headstone. PHOTO: COURTESY SUZANNE ANDREWS

The mysterious death of 19-year-old Stephen Smith in 2015, near the Murdaugh estate, raises questions about a potential connection to Alex Murdaugh. South Carolina Law Enforcement Division reopened the investigation in June 2021, following renewed interest after the murders of Margaret and Paul Murdaugh. Once again, 14th Circuit Solicitor Duffie Stone recused himself due to his ties with Murdaugh.

His son, Paul, was awaiting trial

Maggie, Paul, and Alex Murdaugh
Photo via Flickr

Paul Murdaugh faced legal troubles for a 2019 boating incident resulting in the death of Mallory Beach. Suspicions of Alex Murdaugh using his legal connections to interfere with the investigation led to the recusal of the 14th circuit district solicitor, Duffie Stone, due to his ties with Murdaugh.


We Got This Covered is supported by our audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn a small affiliate commission. Learn more about our Affiliate Policy
Author
Image of Taylor Floyd
Taylor Floyd
Taylor Floyd graduated with a Bachelors in Creative Writing from the University of Tennessee. She has written for true crime TV shows, movies, and podcasts for over five years.